Press operating mechanism and control



July 6, 1937. J. P. DALY 2,086,259

PRESS OPERATING MECHANISM AND CONTROL Filed March 4, 1955 '2 sheets-sheet 1 JOSEPH P. DALY ATTORNEY July 6, 1937. J. P. DALY PRESS OPERATING MECHANISM AND CONTROL Filed March 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR BY JOSEPH E DALY ym, d: /f of #y JRNE .f

Patented July 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE muss OPERATING MECHANSM AND CONTROL Joseph I. Daly, New York, N. Y., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company. Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 4, 1935, Serial No. 9,194

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improved operating and control mechanism for pressing machines. An object of the present invention is to provide in a pressing machine having a pair of co- 6 acting relatively movable pressing members two 10 alone being insu'icient to completely close the press. control mechanism including spaced safety manuals which require the use of two hands of an operator until the press. is safely closed after l5 which mechanism operated by the press closing motor serves to maintain the iiuid supply for both motors.

My improved control mechanism is so arranged that the means for maintaining the fluid supply to hold the press closed cannot be actuated until the pressing members have moved to a nearly closed position.

Another feature of my improved control mechanism for a two motor press in which both motors must be actuated to completely close the press includes means for supplying motive fluid to a first of said motors, means actuated by the first motor for supplying fluid to the second motor, and means actuated by the second motor 30 for supplying fluid to a maintaining means for the first motor supply.

Other objects and advantages include the arrangement of parts and suitable structure for carrying out -the above named objects and the 35 essential features will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of a pressing machine embodying my invention with the control mechanism therefor shown dia- 40 grammatically; while Figs. 2 and 3 show the power and control mechanism of Fig. 1 in different operated positions.

My improved operating and control mechanism is applicable to many types of presses but I have 45 chosen to illustrate the same as applied to a press of the type used in laundry and garment work. While I have shown one of the pressing members stationary and the other movable and the mounting of two motors both oi which act upon the 5u movable member to close the press, it will be understood that both members might be movable if desired and that one motor might move one of the members while the other motor moved the second member so that the use of both motors 55 would be necessary toV completely close the press.

In such a pressing machine I provide,

Such arrangements of pressing machines are well known to this art and the application of my improved operating and control mechanism to such other types of machines would be within the scope of one skilled in this art. I do not desire to be limited in the application of the principles `here disclosed except by the appended claims when construed in view of the prior art.

In the press illustrated, upon a frame I isF mounted a stationary pressing bed H. Upon a bracket of the frame is pivotally mounted a head lever l2 which carries a pressing head or chest i3 adapted to move into and out of coacting position with the pressing bed. To provide this movement a pair of toggles i4 is connected between the `frame and the rear end of the head lever. These toggles are biased toward the broken position shown in full lines in the drawings by a spring l5. Power mechanism is provided foa closing the press which moves the toggles to the broken line position of Fig. 1 which moves the pressing head into coacting position with the bed as indicated in broken lines. In this position the toggles are not quite straightened so that spring i5 is always eiective to break the toggles upon the release of power application.

In the embodiment which I have chosen for the purpose of this description the two motors i6 and il are combined in a unitary structure although as pointed out above modifications of this arrangement are within the scope of my invention. In the form shown, i6 and Il are two axother arrangements of these cylinderand piston elements will readily occur to those skilled in this art which will produce the same results, as for instance the right-hand motor as viewed in the drawings might remain substantially as it is with the piston of the left-hand motor rigid therewith and the cylinder of the left-hand motor connected with the togg1es or the pistons 0f bOl'fh motors might be connected together and the cylinder of one motor connected to the frame while the cylinder of the other motor was connected to the toggles.

As shown, a cylinder I 3 is provided with a transversely extending partition wall I9 intermediate its ends which divides the cylinder I8 into the cylinder portions 20 and 2| corresponding to the motors 6 and l1 respectively. The cylinder portion 20 houses a piston 22 whose piston rod 23 is pivotally connected to a bracket of the frame at 24. Likewise the cylinder portion 2| is provided with a. piston 25 whose piston rod 26 is pivotally connected at 21` with the toggle knuckle.

The supply of pressure iluid for actuating the motor means comprises a conduit 28 having branches 28a, 28h and 28e. The valves controlling the supply of iiuid for operating motor I6 are housed in casing 29 and are operable by a double diaphragm device 3|),` the iiuid supply for which is controlled by valves in casings 3| and 32. The iluid supply for motor I1 is controlled by valves in casing 33 while the valves for controlling the fluid supply for maintaining pressure in the diaphragm device 3l) to maintain the press closed are housed in casing 34. The valve structure in casings 29, 3|, 32, 33 and 34 are all similar and the parts thereof are provided with similar subscripts and one only will be described. For instance, in casing 3| there is a normally closed inlet valve 3|a and a normally open outlet valve 3|b, both of which are mounted on a common stem 3|e and the valves are biased to v their normal position by a spring 3|d.

The diaphragm device 30 is preferably mounted integral with valve casing 29 and comprises spaced diaphragms 35 and 36 with a spacing member 31 between them so that pressure upon the right-hand face of diaphragm 36 will act through member 31 and diaphragm 35 to actuate valve stem 29e. It will also be obvious that pressure iluid supplied to the chambd- 38 between the diaphragms will maintain diaphragm 35 in its left position so as to maintain the valve 29a open and valve 29h closed.

The supply of motive fluid to the right-hand face of diaphragm 36 is by way of conduit 39, valve casing 3|, conduit 40, valve casing 32 and conduit 4|. The supply of motive fluid from valve casing 29 to motor |61 is by way of conduit 42. The supply of motive fluid from valve casing 33 to motor |1 is by way of conduits 43 and 44 which may be directly connected together but preferably includes in series a shuttle valve casing 45 which will be later described. 'I'he fluid supply between valve casing 34 and the chamber 38 of the diaphragm device or uid maintaining means 30 is by way of conduit 46.

The shuttle valve casing 45 has an outlet port 41 and a valve disk 46 which is biased by spring 49 to the position shown in the drawing where it prevents iluid ow from conduit 43 to conduit 44 and establishes an exhaust outlet from motor |1 through conduit 44 and port 41. However, upon flow of pressure iiuid in conduit 43, valve disk 48 will be moved to the left in its casing against the bias of spring 49 so as to establish a flow from conduit 43 to conduit 44.

Means is provided forA actuating the valves in casings 33 and 34 upon a predetermined movement of their associated motors I6 and I1 respectively. To this end the valve casings 33 and 34 are rigidly mounted at the ends of the cylinder I8 with the valve stems 33c and 34e in position to be contacted by cams 23a and 26a respectively on the piston rods 23 and 26 after a predetermined relative movement between the pistons 22 and 25 and the cylinder portions in which they are housed.

An exhaust conduit 60 is provided for motor I6 and communicates with valve casing 5I in which is housed a normally closed outlet valve 5|a biased toward closed position by a spring 5|b and having a stem 5|c by which it is actuated. The control manuals are mounted in a. position convenient for the operator and comprise manuals 3|e and 32e for controlling the valves in casings 3| and 32 respectively and manual 5|d for controlling the release valve in casing 5I.

With the parts in the full line position of Fig. 1, the operator arranges the lay of the work upon the bed I and actuates manuals 3|e and 32e. Fluid then flows through open valves 3|a and 32a to the right-hand face of diaphragm 36 moving both diaphragms 35 and 36 toward the left to actuate the valves in casing 29. This establishes a ow of motive uid to motor I6 to the left-hand face of piston 22. 'Ihe piston being fixed at pivot 24, the entire cylinder I8 and piston 25 and its associated rod will move toward the left as viewed in the drawings to partially close the press. Upon suiicient relative movement between piston 22 and the cylinder portion 20, cam 23a. will contact valve stem 33e which will close valve 33h and open valve 33a as shown in Fig. 2. This establishes a fluid supply through conduits 43 and 44, the action of valve disk 48 having been already described. This establishes a flow of motive fluid to the right-hand face of piston 25 and this piston then moves rearwardly or to the left as viewed in the drawings to completely close the press. When the pressing members are substantially in closed position cam 26a contacts valve stem 34e to close valve 34h and to open valve 34a as shown in Fig. 3. This establishes a iiuid supply through conduit 46 to chamber 36 between diaphragms 35 and 36 which maintains diaphragm 35# in its position -toward the left which maintains the valves in casing 29 in their actuated position and insures maintenance of the iuid supply to motor I6 and thus through the chain of valves and conduits already described to motor I1. The press thus remains closed under fluid pressure and the operator may release manuals 3| e and 32e. 'I'he toggles and the pressing head are then inthe broken line position of Fig. 1.

To open the press the operator actuates manual 5|d to open valve 5|a and exhaust pressure from motor I6 through conduit 50. This manual is temporarily held while spring I5 breaks the toggles I4 and causes relative movement between cylinder portion 20 and piston 22 to move the cylinder toward the right with respect to the piston so that cam portion 23a rides oi of the valve stem 33e which closes valve 33a and opens valve 33b thus establishing a fluid outlet for motor I1 whereupon relative movement takes place between piston 25 and cylinder portion 2| causing cam 26a to ride off of valve stem 34e which exhausts the maintaining fluid in diaphragm chamber 38. The parts thus return to their starting position.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, two cylinder and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith for relatively moving said members to completely close the press, the

. stroke of either of said motors alone being insuilicient to completely close the press, manually controlled means for supplying fluid to a i'lrst of said motors, means actuated by said first motor aosaaso actuated by said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for maintaining said manually controlled means in fluid supply position.

2; In a pressing machine. a frame, a stationary pressing member thereon, a coacting pressing member movable toward and from said stationary member, two axially aligned fluid motors each having cylinder and piston elements, one element of each motor being connected with' the frame and the movable pressing member respectively, the other elements of said motors being rigidly connected together, the working strokes of both motors being necessary to completely close the press, means including a manual for supplying uidto a rst of said motors, means actuated by said first motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for eiectively supplying actuating fluid to the second motor, and means actuated by said second.motor 4upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for establishing a fluid supply for said rst motorindependent of said manual.

3. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, two cylinder and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith for relatively moving said members to completely close the press, the stroke of either of said motors alone being insufficient to completely close the press, control means including spaced safety manuals requiring the use of two hands of an operator for supplying uid to a first of said motors, means actuated by said first motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for effectively supplying actuating fluid to the second motor, and means actuatedby said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for establishing a iiuid supply for said first motor independently of said safety manuals.

4. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, two cylinder and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith for relatively moving said members to completely close the press, the stroke of either of said motors alone being insufcient to completely close the press, fluid actuated movable abutment means, twohand controlled means for supplying fluid to said abutment means, means actuated by said abutment means for supplying iiuid to a rst of said motors, means actuated by said first motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for supplying iiuid to the second motor, and means actuated by said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for supplying pressure uid to said abutment means independently of said two-hand control.

'5. In a pressing machine, a frame, a stationary pressing member thereon, a coacting pressing member movable toward and from said stationary member, two axially aligned fluid motors each having cylinder and piston elements, one element` two-hand controlled means for supplying fluid to said abutment means, means actuated by said abutment means for supplying fluid to a first of said motors, means actuated by said first motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston `for supplying fluid to the second motor, and means actuated by said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for supplying pressure fluid to said abutment means independently of said two-hand control.

6. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relativelymovable pressing members, two cylin-v der and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith for relatively moving said members to completely close the press, the stroke of either of said motors alone being insuilcient to completely close the press,

means for supplying motive fluid to a first of said motors including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve and two spaced diaphragmsl operatively connected with said valves so that pressure on one of said diaphragms or pressure between them will open said inlet valve and close said outlet valve, manual means for supplying pressure fluid to said one diaphragm, means actuated by said rst motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for supplying fluid to the second motor, and means actuated by said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston'for supplying pressure fluid between said diaphragms.

7. In a pressing machine, a frame, a stationary pressing member thereon, a coacting pressing member movable toward and from said stationary member, two axially aligned fluid motors each having cylinder and piston elements, one element of each motor being connected with the 'frame and the movable pressing member respectively, the other elements of said motors being rigidly connected together, the working strokes of both'motors being necessary to completely close the press, means for supplying motive Afluid to a first of said motors including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve and two spaced diaphragms operatively connected with said valves so that pressure on one of said diaphragms or pressure between them will open said inletvalve and close said outlet valve, manual means for supplying pressure fluid to said one diaphragm, means actuated by said first motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for supplying fluidl to the second motor, and means actuated by said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for supplying pressure fluid between said diaphragms.

8. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, two cylinder and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith for relatively moving said members to completely close the press, the stroke of either of said motors alone being insuflcient to completely close the press, means for supplying motive fluid to a rst of said motors including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve and two spaced diaphragms operatively connected with said valves so that pressure on one of said diaphragms or pressure between them will open said inlet valve and close said outlet valve,rcontrol means including spaced safety manuals requiring the use of two hands of an operator for supplying pressure fluid to said one diaphragm, means actuated by said flrst motor upon a predetermined relative movement betwen its cylinder and piston for supplying fluid to the second motor, and means actuated by said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between lts cylinder and piston for supplying pressure fluid between said diaphragms.

9. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing members, two cylinder and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith for relatively moving said members to completely. close the press, the stroke of either of said motors alone being insufllcient to completely close the press, manually controlled means; for supplying motive fluid to one of said motors, fluid actuated means for holding said manually controlled means in fluid supply position, conduit means connecting a fluid supply with the other of said motors and including a normally closed valve, means for opening said valve upon predetermined movement of said one motor, conduit means connecting a fluid supply with said fluid actuated means and including a second normally closed valve, and means for opening said second valve upon predetermined movement of said other motor.

10. In a pressing machine, a frame, a stationary pressing member thereon, a coacting pressing member movable toward and from said stationary member, 4two axially aligned flud motors each having cylinder and piston elements, one element of each motor being connected with the frame and the movable pressing member respectively, the other elements of said motors being rigidly connected together, the working strokes of both motors being necessary to completely close the press, manually controlled means for supplying motive fluid to one of said motors, fluid actuated means for `holding said manually controlled means in fluid supply position, conduit means connecting a fluid supply with the other of said motors and including a normally closed valve, means for opening said valve upon predetermined movement of said one motor, conduit means connecting a fluid supply with said fluid actuated means and including a second normally closed valve, and means for opening said second valve upon predetermined movement of said other motor.

11. A pressing machine as in claim 9 and including in said first named conduit means a valve casing having an exhaust outlet, and a valve in said casing movable to connect said other motor either with said exhaust outlet or with said fluid supply established by opening of said first named valve.

12. In a pressing machine, a pair of coacting relatively movable pressing' members, two cylinder and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith for relatively moving said members to completely close the press, the stroke of either of said motors alone being insuillcient to completely close the press,

three sets of valves, each set including a normally closed inlet valve and a normally open outlet valve and actuable to open the inlet and to close the outlet valve, the flrst set of valves controlling a. fluid supply for a first of said motors, manually controlled means for actuating said first set of valves, fluid actuated means for maintaining said first set of valves in actuated position, the second set of valves controlling a fluid supply for the second of said motors, means controlled by predetermined movement of said rst motor for actuating said second set of valves, the third set of valves controlling a fluid supply for said fluid actuated means, and means controlled by predetermined movement of said second motor for actuating said third set of valves.

13. In a pressing machine, a frame, a stationary pressing member thereon, a coacting pressing member movable toward and from said stationary member, mechanism for moving said movable member,A a cylinder having a transverse partition wall intermediate its ends, two pistons having working strokes in said cylinder in opposite directions from,said wall, one of said pistons having a rod connection with said frame, the

other of said pistons having a rod connection` with said mechanism, two valve casings rigidly mounted on said cylinder, one associated with each piston, each casing having a connected supply of pressure fluid and a normally closed valve controlling said supply, a cam on each piston rod, one cam for each of said valves, said cams being Narranged to actuate said valves upon predetermined relative movement of said pistons and said cylinder, manually controlled means for supplying motive fluid to actuate one of said pistons, fluid actuated means for maintaining said last-named means in fluid supplyA position, a conduit connection from said casing associated with said one piston for conducting motive fluid to the other piston, and a conduit connection from the casing associated with said other piston for conducting pressure fluid to said fluid actuated means.

14. In a pressing machine, a pair of coactlng relatively movable pressing members, two cylinder and piston motors and motion transmitting mechanism connected therewith 4for relatively moving said members to completely close the press, the stroke of either of said motors alone being insufficient to completelyclose the press, a manual control member and associated conduit connections for supplying fluid to a first of said motors, means actuated by said ilrst motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for effectively supplying actuating fluid to the second motor, and means actuated by said second motor upon a predetermined relative movement between its cylinder and piston for establishing a fluid supply for said first motor independently of said manual contro member.

JOSEPH P. DALY. 

